$17.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$17.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Sudan
$37.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$35.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Suriname
$504.3 million (2005 est.)
Swaziland
$497 million (31 December 2010 est.)
$411 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Sweden
$853.3 billion (30 June 2010)
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008)
Switzerland
$1.19 trillion (30 June 2010)
$1.305 trillion (31 December 2008)
Syria
$7.682 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$7.359 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Taiwan
$91.41 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$75.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Tajikistan
$1.997 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.771 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Tanzania
$7.576 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$6.879 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Thailand
$82.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$70.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Togo
$NA (31 December 2010)
$1.573 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Tonga
$80.7 million (2004)
Trinidad and Tobago
$4.303 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$3.895 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Tunisia
$18.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$19.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Turkey
$270.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$268.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Turkmenistan
$5 billion (2009 est.)
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
$NA
Tuvalu
$NA
Uganda
$2.888 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$2.554 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Ukraine
$97.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$94.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
United Arab Emirates
$122.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$122.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
United Kingdom
$8.981 trillion (30 June 2010)
$9.041 trillion (31 December 2008)
United States
$13.98 trillion (30 June 2010)
$13.75 trillion (31 December 2008)
note: approximately 4/5ths of US external debt is denominated in US
dollars; foreign lenders have been willing to hold US dollar
denominated debt instruments because they view the dollar as the
world's reserve currency
Uruguay
$13.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$13.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Uzbekistan
$4.236 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$4.053 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Vanuatu
$81.2 million (2004)
Venezuela
$55.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$53.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Vietnam
$33.45 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$27.84 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Virgin Islands
$NA
Wallis and Futuna
$3.67 million (2004)
West Bank
$1.04 billion (2010 est.)
$1.3 billion (2007 est.)
Western Sahara
$NA
World
$59.09 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
$62.25 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt,
both public and private
Yemen
$7.147 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$6.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Zambia
$3.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$3.091 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Zimbabwe
$5.772 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$5.667 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
======================================================================
@2080
Field Listing ::
Country
======================================================================
@2081
Field Listing :: Flag description
This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual
flags or the best information available at the time the entry was
written. The flags of independent states are used by their
dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag.
Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
Country
Flag description
Afghanistan
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red,
and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red
band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the
emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below
the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the
Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK);
this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of
wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic
inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of
the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is
great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name
Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for
independence, and green can represent either hope for the future,
agricultural prosperity, or Islam
note: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th
century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green
appeared on most of them
Akrotiri
the flag of the UK is used
Albania
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design
is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota
SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that
resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions
(1443-1478); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is
the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the
eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as
"sons of the eagle"
Algeria
two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a
red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the
two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green), purity and
peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also
Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other
Muslim countries because the Algerians believe the long crescent
horns bring happiness
American Samoa
blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is
based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and
white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying
two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a
"Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk
known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols
broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the
relationship between the United States and American Samoa
Andorra
three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red,
with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the
latter band is slightly wider than the other two so that the ratio
of band widths is 8:9:8; the coat of arms features a quartered
shield with the emblems of (starting in the upper left and
proceeding clockwise): Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto
reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger); the flag
combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of
Spain to show Franco-Spanish protection
note: similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a
national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which
does bear a national emblem
Angola
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a
centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half
a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and
sickle); red represents liberty, black the African continent, the
symbols characterize workers and peasants
Anguilla
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half
of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an
interlocking circular design on a white background with a
turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents
peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as
faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance,
unity, and strength
Antigua and Barbuda
red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based
on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal
bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising
sun in the black band; the sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era,
black represents the African heritage of most of the population,
blue is for hope, and red is for the dynamism of the people; the "V"
stands for victory; the successive yellow, blue, and white coloring
is also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun,
sea, and sand
Argentina
three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white,
and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun
with a human face known as the Sun of May; the colors represent the
clear skies and snow of the Andes; the sun symbol commemorates the
appearance of the sun through cloudy skies on 25 May 1810 during the
first mass demonstration in favor of independence; the sun features
are those of Inti, the Inca god of the sun
Armenia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange;
the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian
skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the
workers who farm it
Aruba
blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the
lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the
upper hoist-side corner; the star represents Aruba and its red soil
and white beaches, its four points the four major languages
(Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) as well as the four points of
a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the
world; the blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes
represent the island's two main "industries": the flow of tourists
to the sun-drenched beaches and the flow of minerals from the earth
Ashmore and Cartier Islands
the flag of Australia is used
Australia
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side
quadrant known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star, representing
the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star
depicts one point for each of the six original states and one
representing all of Australia's internal and external territories;
on the fly half is a representation of the Southern Cross
constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four
larger, seven-pointed stars
Austria
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red;
the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest -
national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191,
following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of
Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon
removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the
red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his
banner
Azerbaijan
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and
green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in
the red band; the blue band recalls Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage,
red stands for modernization and progress, and green refers to
Islam; the crescent moon is an Islamic symbol, while the
eight-pointed star represents the eight Turkic peoples of the world
Bahamas, The
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold,
and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist
side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands
surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and
force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the
enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the
rich resources of land and sea
Bahrain
red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states,
with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side;
the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was
reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
Bangladesh
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the
hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the
sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the
lush vegetation of Bangladesh
Barbados
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and
blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the
band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of
the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break
with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete
trident)
Belarus
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half
the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color
recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents
hope and the many forests of the country
Belgium
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,
and red; the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the
colors are those of the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion
with red claws and tongue on a black field)
Belize
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom
edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the
coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a
mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in
the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green
garland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main
political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various
elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany
tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that
led to British settlement of Belize
note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human
beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British
Virgin Islands, also depict humans
Benin
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom)
with a vertical green band on the hoist side; green symbolizes hope
and revival, yellow wealth, and red courage
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Bermuda
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red
lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield
showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609)
centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the
vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia,
that led to settling of Bermuda
note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas
territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue
Bhutan
divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered
along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing
away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder
Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for
purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background
colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the
orange is associated with Bhuddism, while the yellow denotes the
ruling dynasty
Bolivia
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green
with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; red stands for
bravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's
mineral resources, and green for the fertility of the land
note: similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black
five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; in 2009, a
presidential decree made it mandatory for a so-called wiphala - a
square, multi-colored flag representing the country's indigenous
peoples - to be used alongside the traditional flag
Bosnia and Herzegovina
a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly
side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top
of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven
full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom
along the hypotenuse of the triangle; the triangle approximates the
shape of the country and its three points stand for the constituent
peoples - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe
and are meant to be continuous (thus the half stars at top and
bottom); the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are often associated
with neutrality and peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia
Botswana
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in
the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the
black and white bands represent racial harmony
Bouvet Island
the flag of Norway is used
Brazil
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a
blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has
a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and
Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former
Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green
represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of
Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife;
on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country
and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and
stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict
the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the
day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has
changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an
original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal
District)
British Indian Ocean Territory
white with six blue wavy horizontal
stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of
the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy
stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially
described, the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of
the archipelago
British Virgin Islands
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in
the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked
on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll
bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were
named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin
followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by
the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding
a lamp represents the saint, the other lamps symbolize her followers
Brunei
yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national
emblem in red is superimposed at the center; yellow is the color of
royalty and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bands
denote Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five main
components: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing
the monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice,
tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands
signifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote the
welfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the
state religion; the state motto "Always render service with God's
guidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbon
below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
Bulgaria
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and
red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by
substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue
note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe, has been removed
Burkina Faso
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with
a yellow five-pointed star in the center; red recalls the country's
struggle for independence, green is for hope and abundance,and
yellow represents the country's mineral wealth
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Burma
design consists of three equal horizontal stripes of yellow
(top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a large white
five-pointed star that partially overlaps onto the adjacent colored
stripes; the design revives the triband colors used by Burma from
1943-45, during the Japanese occupation
Burundi
divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk
superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,
two stars below); green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity
and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence;
the three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups:
Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national
motto: unity, work, progress
Cambodia
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),
and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
outlined in black in the center of the red band; red and blue are
traditional Cambodian colors
note: only national flag to incorporate an actual building in its
design
Cameroon
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow, with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band;
the vertical tricolor recalls the flag of France; red symbolizes
unity, yellow the sun, happiness, and the savannahs in the north,
and green hope and the forests in the south; the star is referred to
as the "star of unity"
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Canada
two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width)
with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is
centered in the white square; the maple leaf has long been a
Canadian symbol; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Cape Verde
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue
- equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three
bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and
a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a
circle of 10, yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red
stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist
side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars
represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes
symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white)
and effort (red)
Cayman Islands
a blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a
pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle,
representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a
golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green
stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue
wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing
the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Central African Republic
four equal horizontal bands of blue (top),
white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; a
yellow five-pointed star to the hoist side of the blue band; banner
combines the Pan-African and French flag colors; red symbolizes the
blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue represents the
sky and freedom, white peace and dignity, green hope and faith, and
yellow tolerance; the star represents aspiration towards a vibrant
future
Chad
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and
red; the flag combines the blue and red French (former colonial)
colors with the red and yellow of the Pan-African colors; blue
symbolizes the sky, hope, and the south of the country, which is
relatively well-watered; yellow represents the sun, as well as the
desert in the north of the country; red stands for progress, unity,
and sacrifice
note: similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of
Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms
centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Chile
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue
square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of
the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the
center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes
the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red represents the
blood spilled to achieve independence
note: design was influenced by the US flag